most afflicting

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In many places man trembles at this day, because his progenitors have trembled for thousands of years past.The thought of his gods always awakened in man the most afflicting ideas.…Cited from System of Nature, Vol. 2, by Baron D'Holbach

We speak not of any physical sensibilities, but of those which are purely moral -- sensibilities to poetic emotions, to ambition, to social gaiety.Accordingly it is amongst the young men and women of this body that the most afflicting cases under this type occur.…Cited from Theological Essays and Other Papers v1,de Quincey

Had Amanda asserted her right to think and act for herself in the early days of her married life, the jar of discord would have been light.It now promised to be most afflicting in its character.The first activity of Amanda's newly forming state showed itself in the doing of certain things to which she was inclined, notwithstanding the expression of her husband's disapproval.…Cited from Married Life, by T.S. Arthur

Shall we lay her on a bed of down; introduce a singer; shall we burn cedar, or present here with some pleasant liquor, and provide her something to eat?Are these the good things which remove the most afflicting grief?For you but just now said you knew of no other good.…Cited from Cicero's Tusculan Disputations, by Marcus Tullius Cicero

You cannot but know that unhappy people have a certain consolation in venting their misfortunes; and if you be pleased to relate yours, I doubt not that you will find some relief in so doing.Why then, said she, lend your ear to a story the most afflicting that can be imagined.You must know, when I first saw the thieves entering with sword in hand, I believed it the last moment of my life: but dying did not then seem so shocking to me, since I thought I was to die with the prince of Persia.…Cited from The Arabian Nights Entertainments, Vol. 1, by Anon

But to return to Henry IV., the great gambling exemplar of the nation.The account given of him at the gaming table is most afflicting, when we remember his royal greatness, his sublime qualities.…Cited from The Gaming Table [Pros/Cons] by Andrew Steinmetz

Was he conceivably the kind of man who is capable of thinking one thing and doing another?The most afflicting of all doubts, doubt of himself, kept the young man tossing on his pillow for at least an hour.But he woke with a clear-cut decision singing in his mind and gladdening his morning.…Cited from Queed, by Henry Sydnor Harrison

And then she unmistakably heard the front door open.Her heart jumped with the most afflicting violence.She was ready to fall on to the carpet, but seemed to be suspended in the air.…Cited from The Price of Love, by Arnold Bennett

The companionship was very dreary, and the picture grievous and most afflicting to our thoughts.Cited from Diderot and the Encyclopaedists (Vol 1 of 2), by John Morley

For these enormities the enemy are equally responsible, whether with the power to prevent them they want the will or with the knowledge of a want of power they still avail themselves of such instruments.In other respects the enemy are pursuing a course which threatens consequences most afflicting to humanity.A standing law of Great Britain naturalizes, as is well known, all aliens complying with conditions limited to a shorter period than those required by the United States, and naturalized subjects are in war employed by her Government in common with native subjects.…Cited from Messages and Papers of the Presidents: James Madison, by Richardson

His long and faithful services in many subordinate but important stations, his recent elevation to the highest in honor and power, and the brief term allotted to him in the enjoyment of it are circumstances of themselves which must awaken the liveliest sympathy in every bosom.But these are personal considerations; the dispensation is heaviest and most afflicting on public grounds.This great calamity has befallen the country at a period of general anxiety for its present, and some apprehension for its future, condition -- at a time when it is most desirable that all its high offices should be filled and all its high trusts administered in harmony, wisdom, and vigor.…Cited from Messages and Papers of the Presidents: Harrison, by James D. Richardson

I was indeed shocked at the whole sight; it almost overwhelmed me, and I went away with my heart full of the most afflicting thoughts, such as I cannot describe.Cited from Great Events by Famous Historians, V12,Ed. Johnson

In refusing him she was liable to the derision of the world, to sneers from strangers, and remonstrances from her friends, to becoming a topic for ridicule, if not for slander, and an object of curiosity if not of contempt.The ills, therefore, that threatened her marriage, though most afflicting, were least disgraceful, and those which awaited its breach, if less serious, were more mortifying.…Cited from Memoirs of an Heiress, by Frances Burney

Such were the vain complaints with which I filled the cave, beating my head and breast out of rage and despair, and abandoning myself to the most afflicting thoughts.Nevertheless, I must tell you, that instead of calling death to my assistance in that miserable condition, I felt still an inclination to live, and to do all I could to prolong my days.…Cited from The Arabian Nights Entertainments Complete

On his return to Quito in 1541, Gonzalo Pizarro received accounts of the most afflicting nature.When, as formerly related, Don Diego Almagro was put to death at Cuzco by Ferdinand Pizarro, a son whom Almagro had by an Indian woman was sent to reside in Lima.…Cited from History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Vol. IV, by Robert Kerr

Such were the vain complaints with which I made the cave echo, beating my head and breast out of rage and despair, and abandoning myself to the most afflicting thoughts.Nevertheless, I must tell you that, instead of calling death to my assistance in that miserable condition, I felt still an inclination to live, and to do all I could to prolong my days.…Cited from Fairy Tales From The Arabian Nights, by E. Dixon

Why was one in speech so like a ghost selected his companion?And that verse, of all to him most afflicting, and which in hours of despair he had repeated until his very spirit had become colored with its reproachful plaint -- who put it in the man's mouth?…Cited from The Prince of India, by Lew. Wallace, Vol. 1

It is very certain that if we had ventured upon this second raft, weak as we were, we should not have been able to hold out six hours, with our legs in the water, and thus obliged continually to row.Mean time the night came, and its gloomy shades revived in our minds the most afflicting thoughts; we were convinced that there were not above twelve or fifteen bottles of wine left in our barrel.We began to feel an invincible disgust at the flesh which had till then, scarcely supported us; and we may say that the sight of it inspired us with a sentiment of terror, which was doubtless produced by the idea of approaching destruction.…Cited from Narrative of a Voyage to Senegal in 1816, by Savigny and Correard

Be assured, my dear sir, that Mrs. Collins and myself sincerely sympathize with you, and all your respectable family, in your present distress, which must be of the bitterest kind, because proceeding from a cause which no time can remove.No arguments shall be wanting, on my part, that can alleviate so severe a misfortune; or that may comfort you under a circumstance that must be of all others most afflicting to a parent's mind.The death of your daughter would have been a blessing in comparison of this.…Cited from The World's Best Literature, Ancient And Modern, Vol. 3, Ed. by Warner

Such were the vain complaints with which I made the cave to echo, beating my head and stomach out of rage and despair, and abandoning myself to the most afflicting thoughts.Nevertheless, I must tell you, that instead of calling death to my assistance in that miserable condition, I felt still an inclination to live, and to do all I could to prolong my days.…Cited from The Arabian Nights Entertainments, Vol. 1, by Anon